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1 CALIFORNIAHOMEDESIGN.COM February 2013

2February 2013 CALIFORNIAHOMEDESIGN.COM

text by Cat Lyonsphotograpy by Ryan Larson

styling by Paisley Vivier & Sahara Ray-Bach

here are many different kinds of people that choose to live “in the woods,” as opposed to “the flats” as forest people would say, the flats being the rest of the bay area that is not up in the woods. There are hippies living on self-sustainable communes, there are yuppie families that want a little more privacy and space for their children,

there are older couples who want to get away from civilization and live out their last years in peace and quiet with nature, there are celebrities who need a hidden oasis from the hustle and bustle of their normal lives in the spotlight, and then there are artists, musicians, and other creative types who love the inspiration that the wild and nature provide. The Lyons family falls into a couple of these categories, they are now an empty nesting couple, enjoying their retirement with their animals in the woods, away from the noise of the cities where they used to reside. The wife, Mary Jane, is also a creative type, she used to be a children’s designer, has worked as an interior designer, and is also an artist. They originally moved to the mountain from LA when their kids were young so that they could be near the San Francisco where

4

T

It is around the table that we

understand best the warmth of being together.


Relaxing Repast“Mary envisioned a dining space where people would want to sit around and talk for hours after a meal,” says her husband, “so she designed a large table with benches to create a more welcoming dining expeience.”


James, the husband, worked as a Lawyer, but also have space to keep their animals instead of having to board them like they did in LA. Their children have since grown up and moved out, so now they have the place to themselves. A while ago they decided to remodel the whole house since they originally bought it unfinished over twenty years ago. They did so with the help of Mary’s friends Ariel Snyders, designer and fabricator, and his longtime partner Michelle Rein who is also a designer, as well as a jewelry designer and stained glass fabricator, as well as the project coordinator and client liaison for their Interior and Architectural design and fabrication company; American Artisans. Mary’s aesthetics and personal tastes can be seen everywhere in the house, she was very proac-tive in the creation of their new home down to every little carving and decorative detail. Their home is now completely unique and exactly represents them and their own personal design identities in every aspect of this wonderful, hidden sanctuary. The property itself is also a beautifully, artistic representation of Mary. When they bought the land it was barren with no


with no gardens or plants on large areas of the property, but Mary has spent years turning the property into a wonderful, gorgeous and interesting, landscape of flowers and trees everywhere with gardens, fountains, tree houses and other exquisite exterior details. This is why people move up into the mountains, once you buy your house, you can make it into your perfect home inside and out. Mary has had many details imported from around the world like her beautiful blue stove which is from France, and fountains and other landscape accents like fountains and interior marble tiles from Italy. The possibilities are endless when you have free rein on how


you want your home and surrounding property to look and feel, and the Lyons estate feels like a wonderfully classic, pristine escape, where anyone would want to stay for a weekend to away from the city. With many activities like horseback riding on the fifteen acres of trails, picking vegetables and flowers from the gardens to cook a lovely dinner in one of the two kitchens, or just relax on the porch and read a book. Mary has always talked about turning their home into a little bed and breakfast, so maybe one day you will be able to stay there and do all those amazing things in this hidden wonderland in the forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Woodside is small town in San Mateo County. It is located on the San Andreas fault, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and The Santa Cruz Mountains on the San Francisco Peninsula. Much of Woodside is dominated by redwoods in the western hills and oaks and eucalyptus in the lower areas. Before the Europeans came to explore and settle in California, Woodside was home to the Ohlone and Costanoan people. The area is distinguished for having been the home of some of the first English-speaking settlers on the San Francisco Peninsula. After World War II, San Mateo County grew rapidly, altering the mid-peninsula landscape. Today, Woodside is among the wealthiest small towns in the United States.

There is a blessedness surely to be

believed, and that is

everything abides in

eternal ecstasy, now and forever.

Jack Kerouac


Much of Woodside is dominated by redwoods in the

western hills and oaks and eucalyptus in the lower areas.

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